+ Enhancing the Resilience of Seniors in Your Community Jason - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
+ Enhancing the Resilience of Seniors in Your Community Jason Rhoades October 18 th , 2017 + Outline Seniors and climate change Case Study: Climate Resilient Seniors Process Results (Vulnerability and Adaptation) Lessons
Jason Rhoades October 18th, 2017
Seniors and climate change Case Study: Climate Resilient Seniors
Process Results (Vulnerability and Adaptation) Lessons Learned
Physiological and cognitive impairments Economic limitations Social isolation
Most in need of adaptation support Have first hand knowledge and experience to contribute May have less voice in adaptation planning
Focus on “key stakeholders” Limited ability to engage Minority concerns Risk failing to address their needs and concerns
Engage seniors in dedicated process then bring to
Build understanding of issue and potential actions Set individual and collective priorities Find voice(s) Enhance capacity to self advocate Inform community efforts
Socioeconomically diverse Multiple stressors
Heat waves Air pollution Flooding Storms Sea level rise
Step in Process Purpose* Initial planning meeting Identify current and future climate changes relevant to the community Consider resources, challenges, needs Design outreach and engagement 2 Vulnerability assessment meetings Assess vulnerability of the senior community Vulnerability survey Prioritize vulnerabilities to address 2 Adaptation planning meetings Develop and prioritize adaptation strategies
*adapted from NRC (2010) Adapting to the Impacts
Attending
City Staff (Bridgeport DOA and OEMHS) AUNE Researcher Support organizations Seniors
Focus
Review the landscape (resources, stressors, needs, opportunities) Design structure & outreach for project process and specific
meetings
Promoted through senior centers 55 participants Kept demographic records
Initial presentation on historical climate trends Break out group discussions
How you are currently impacted? What factors contribute to your vulnerability to those impacts? How do you prepare for, cope with, recover?
Presentation on predicted trends Discussion
How would predicted changes impact you?
Previously unaffected become affected Previous coping strategies no longer sufficient Misperception of severity of climate risks Adaptive capacity overwhelmed
Review of results of survey Brief presentation on adaptation planning best practices Set adaptation goals Develop specific strategies Prioritize strategies based on impact and feasibility Share results with relevant support organizations
Encourage preparedness Provide effective warnings Provide seniors with resources for securing safe shelter. Provide transportation resources Provide resources to help seniors accomplish essential tasks Provide resources to aid seniors in the recovery process
Emergency preparedness trainings Emergency preparedness informational materials Reverse 911 sign up drive Tailor warnings Tailor shelters Promote volunteer ridesharing Establish a telephone-based clearinghouse
Tailoring the city’s ongoing efforts
n=35
n=7
And…
Recommendations have co-benefits Implementation by city Increased awareness among support agencies Increased communication between local partners Increased trust between older adults and support agencies
n=35
Fostering Accessibility and Inclusivity Using an Iterative Process Generating Initial Actions Building Partnerships
Recognize diversity Accessibility of meetings and materials Multiple opportunities for engagement Connect issues with day-to-day concerns Maintaining a diversity of perspectives
Build individual and collective understanding one step at a
Fully understand system before developing interventions
Build initial action into the project/research timeline
Facilitates transition from planning to action Success can generate additional actions
Complementary partnership between municipality
Filling gaps in expertise and resources
Collaborate with multiple organizations Produce information useful to local organizations
Seniors are highly vulnerable Changes could overwhelm adaptive capacity Support services are key Including seniors as participants has multiple benefits Opportunity for meaningful inclusion, increasing understanding, and
building resilience
Benefits of collaboration between municipalities and higher education
Contact me
jrhoades@antioch.edu
Full description of research
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10?0::NO:10:P10_ETD_SUBID:113828
Journal article on vulnerability
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-
abstract/doi/10.1093/geront/gnw167/2967601/Developing-an-In- depth-Understanding-of-Elderly?redirectedFrom=PDF